KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) has urged the government to grant Kelantan a licence for a deep sea port to boost its development.
In his debate on Budget 2023 at the Dewan Rakyat today, Fayhsal alleged that the government has sidelined the opposition states, with no funds channelled to the state governments ruling less developed constituencies.
He said the federal government should at least grant Kelantan a port licence if it does not provide royalties to the state.
“Let us find our own private funding to build this critical infrastructure,” he said.
“We will help improve the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) through the eastern gate of the Malaysian economy,” he added, referring to Kelantan’s position on the north-eastern part of Peninsular Malaysia.
Citing Kelantan’s potential to be the new “Silk Road”, Fayhsal said routes from the northern Kelantan district of Tumpat to places in neighbouring countries such as in the Indo-Chinese region, including Vietnam and Bangkok, are shorter than the distance to Singapore.
“What’s wrong with giving Kelantan a chance to develop a deep sea port that can complement existing trades in the peninsula?” he asked.
Fayhsal also cautioned the government not to make the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) a white elephant, suggesting that it be used to transport cargo from western parts of the peninsula for export from the proposed east coast ports.
With ECRL, the ongoing development of the Central Spine Road, and now possibly ports, Fayhsal expressed hope that Kelantan would have the opportunity to be developed like other states. – The Vibes, March 1, 2023
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